Apparatus for thawing ice from ice-cans.



v PATENTED-MAY 29, 1906. T. G. N'IGEWARNERA A I APPARATUS FOR THAWING ICE FROM 10B CANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Q Vi macaw Ammsw. s. GRAHAM 00mPHDYO-LlH-IOURAPNERS. WASHINGTON. u. c.

PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

T. G. NIGEWARNE'R. APPARATUS FOR THAWING IGB PROM IGE CANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 29, 1905.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

wuewlioz fd/Vic'a r UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE G. NIGEWARNER, OF BELINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE E. CAIN, ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM WORTH TETER, AND ONE-FOURTH TO WARE & VIQUESNEY, A FIRM.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed September 29,1905. Serial No. 280,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE G. ,NIoE- WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Belington, in the county of Barbour and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Thawing Ice from Ice-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus for assisting in or facilitating the work of dumping artificial ice blocks out of the cans in which they have been formed; and it consists of an apparatus for thawing the blocks in the cans sufficiently to allow them to be readily dumped therefrom.

In the manufacture of artificial ice by what is known as the can system after the ice has been formed in the cans the cans are carried to a dumping apparatus to dump the formed blocks out of the cans, and my invention comprehends an improved apparatus by which the ice block may be sufficiently thawed to assist its discharge from the can.

More specifically, the invention comprises a dumping apparatus of the character described provided with a tilting casing or carriage around which is arranged a spraying attachment by means of which hot water may be sprayed around the blocks to effect the thawing above described.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accomp anying drawings, in which.

Figures land 2 are vertical elevations of my improved apparatus, taken at right angles to each other. Fig. 3 is a view thereof with the parts in the position they assume when water or steam is being sprayed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumeral 1 designates suitable uprights or standards between which is tiltably mounted a box or casing 2, designed to receive the cans of ice. At one side of the casing is secured a trunnion 3, which is mounted in a bearing 4, projected from one of the standards, and at its other side the said casing is provided with .ertures for the egress of the hot water.

a hollow hub or trunnion 5, which is mounted to turn in the other standard and is provided with a water-cavity 6, as indicated. Secured to the hollow hub 5 and extending therefrom, as shown in the drawings, is the pipe 7 ,communicating with the water-cavity 6 at one end and at its other end connected by an elbow to a laterally-extending pipe 8, which in turn is connected by a pipe 9 and a suitable coupling to spray-pipes 10. Each of these latter is provided with a suitable number of apertures and is connected at its end to one of the two longitudinal spray-pipes 11, which are correspondingly provided with jets or ap- In the outer end of the hollow hub 5 is screwed a stuiling-box 12, provided with suitable packing 13, bearing against a suitable shoulder in the hub, and within said stufling -box is mounted a nipple 14,which is secured to the body 15 of an angle-cock, said body 15 being connected to a supply-pipe 15 for the hot water. The stem 16 of the angle-cock con trols the communication between the supplypipe 15 and the interior of the nipple 1 1, which leads to the water-cavity 6, and to turn said stem to open or shut off the supply of water said stem has secured to its outer end an arm or lever 17, which is provided at the end attached to said stem with a set-screw by which it may be adjusted axially thereon and is secured at its other end to a plate 19, attached to the casing 2 by means of a slotted strap-and-pin connection 20.

The normal position of the box or casing 2 is an upright or vertical one, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When in this position, the communication between the supply-pipe 15 and the water-cavity 6, leading to the spray-pipe, is cut off. While in this position the can containing the ice block is inserted in the casing, and the casing is then tilted to assume a hori- Zontal position. This tilting motion or change in the relative position of the box or casing 2 effects through the instrumentality of the lever 17 the rotation of the angle-cock .16 and results in the latter opening communication between the hot-water-supply pipe 15 and the water-cavity 6 and spray-pipes, thereby allowing the hot water to be sprayed in order to effect the easy discharge of the block of ice from the can. While I have heretofOre mentioned. only hot water as a medium for effecting the discharge of the blocks, it is of course manifestthat steam is comprehended as well.

, From'the above description in connection with the accompanying drawings it is manifest that I have provided an effective apparatus for thawing the ice from ice-cans in the manufacture of artificial ice by the can system, that the parts of the apparatus are durable, that the apparatus is susceptible of easy manipulation to effect the desired end, and that the tilting of the dumping-box or casing alone is sufficient to automatically effect the spraying of hot Water or steam around ital-"1e can and allow the block to discharge there- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1-. Anapparatus of the character described, comprising standards, a box or casing provided with trunnions j ournaled in said standards whereby the casing is arranged to tilt, one of said trunnions constituting a hollow hub, spray-pipes for said casing, a pipe establishing communication between said hollow hub and said spray-pipes, a supply-pipe or similar device designed to communicate with the interior of said hub, a valve controlling said communication, and provided with a plug, and a lever connected at one end to said plug and connected at its otherend to the easing, whereby the tilting of the casing will swing the said lever and cause the same to turn the plug, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising standards, a boX or casing provided with trunnions ournaled in said standards whereby the casing is arranged to tilt, one of said trunnions constituting a hollow hub, spray-pipes for said casing, a pipe establishing communication between said hub and the spray-pipes a supply-pipe designed to communicate with the interior of said hub, a

valve controlling said communication and provided with a turning plug, and alever'having axially-adjustable connection with the plug at one end and having aslot-and-pin connection with a side of the casing at its other end, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE e. NIOEWARNER. [n s] 

